What can be a driver’s worst nightmare than running out of power on the roadside with no repair shop nearby? This can happen to any of us, and it won’t be an issue if you have the right knowledge to jump-start your car. However, a lot of things can go wrong in a hurry. Hence, it’s essential to know the mistakes to avoid so you can resume your journey safely.
Connecting Cables to the Wrong Terminals
Connecting the cables to the wrong terminals is like taking the wrong turn. It won’t work, and you might face severe issues. Although only beginners commit such a mistake, it leads to damage that even an experienced driver can’t handle. The consequences include damage to the battery, a short circuit, or even fire.
Worn Out or Cheap Jumper Cables
When you have either budget or quality to compromise on, choose the former one. Cheap or worn-out cables are often highly resistant. You may even find some with bad or no connections. Overheating and short circuits are common with the use of such batteries. Excellent-quality cables have low resistance and smooth current flow, which efficiently charges the battery and makes the investment worth it. So, heavy gauge and insulated cables should be your top pick!
Not Reading User Manual
There is no universal rule to jump-start vehicles. Some car manufacturers recommend avoiding jump-starting the battery to maintain the warranty. Reading the user’s manual won’t majorly prevent any damage to the battery, but it may save you from costly damages. So, following the user manual is a wise step. It ensures you are informed and prepared for the task at hand.
Not Turning Off the Accessories
We want all the power from the live car battery to be used to jump-start the dead one. If any accessories, i.e., air conditioner, lights, stereo, are working, they will draw the energy from the jump-start, not leaving enough for the dead battery. It will lead to a failed jump-start, or in some cases, it can even result in electrical surges or damage to the car’s system.
Not Using the Parking Brake
Before you connect jumper cables to both batteries, ensure that you have applied the parking brakes. Any car movement during the jump-starting process may tangle or damage the cables, which may result in sparks and short circuits! Or the car movement may simply disconnect cables that will get you into the fuss of repeating the procedure all over again.
Parking Both Vehicles Closely
Some novice drivers may carelessly park both vehicles close to each other. A slight connection between the surface of both cars and boom! You may face injury or damage to the car’s electrical system. So, always park both cars at a safe distance from each other to ensure safety.
Running a Working Vehicle for A Long Time
You arrange a vehicle to help you with jump-starting, but how’d you know its battery has enough charge to power your car? For this purpose, you may need to ensure the working vehicle has not been running for a long time before connecting it to the dead battery of your car. 5-20 minutes of pre-connection working is fine!
Not Replacing the Cracked Battery
Do you have an old battery that has cracks at this point? Well, it’s your sign to replace it. Jump-starting such a battery may revive it just fine. However, the harmful gases leaking from these cracks during and after the process may pose great threats to your health. Better safe than sorry!
Ignoring the Swinging Cables
You can expect a much anticipated sparking hazard if you leave the cables attached to the working battery swinging. Once the unattached clips come in contact with the painted metal, you’ll find yourself entertaining uninvited fireworks rather than a smooth ride. We recommend keeping a firm grip on cables to prevent such incidents.
Let the Clips Touching Together
Jump-starting always requires a cautious mind and fast reflexes. The slip-up should never happen once you have attached the first clip. Any connection between the other three clips may result in a short circuit, damage to the cables, or potentially dangerous electrical shock. Attach the clips carefully, keep them separate, use clip protectors, and be mindful of cable placement to prevent such mishaps.
Jump-Starting a Frozen Battery
A frozen engine block is like a broken machine. Jump-starting won’t fix it and might cause further damage. You must address the underlying issue to prevent more damage to the power or electrical system. If you overlook this, it may lead to costly repairs or even render the car unusable.
Not Cleaning the Battery Terminals
What happens when dirt gets stuck in the charging port of your devices? Yes, even the best chargers refuse to charge or power the gadget. The same happens when you connect jumper cables to the dirty battery terminals. So, thoroughly clean the terminals to ensure perfect flow of charge, or they won’t budge at all!
Quickly Disconnecting the Cables
Besides the charge that fills up the dead battery, more is needed to maintain the stored charge. The dead battery may not run despite holding the charge if you disconnect the cables quickly. It’s important to be patient and keep the connection for a few minutes once the non-functional battery has successfully jump-started. This approach ensures the battery has enough charge to maintain and run.
Not Monitoring the Battery Temperature
You may encounter overheating, thermal runaway, battery damage, or even electrical system damage if you are not mindful of the battery temperature. The temperature must be below 60 degrees Celsius for the battery to be in the safe zone. We recommend using the thermometer to monitor battery temperature accurately during the jump-starting process. Look for the signs of overheating, like swelling and hissing, etc.
Not Using Safety Gloves and Glasses
The safety of the car’s electrical system is important. But what’s more important is your safety. Jump-starting involves cables and other electric parts. Not using safety gloves and goggles can expose you to potential sparks, putting your life at risk.
Jump-Start Wisely!
Besides avoiding these mistakes, ensure you settle for reliable, high-quality equipment. You can also join online forums to stay updated on recent gear advancements and techniques for jump-starting a vehicle.
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Zainab Noor is a motoring journalist. Childhood rides in Nissan Almera fueled her love for cars. After graduating from AIOU in 2021, she steered her passion into freelance writing. You can find Zainab on LinkedIn.
